THE Chinese mainland has decided on Zhang Yimou’s snowy spy thriller “Cliff Walkers” as its official entrant to the 2022 Oscars Best International Feature Film race. Zhang is one of China’s best-known directors abroad, having become so after looming large as the Chinese mainland’s representative at the Academy Awards. This marks the eighth time the Chinese mainland has chosen his work for the academy’s consideration, following “Red Sorghum” in 1988, “Ju Dou” in 1990, “The Story of Qiu Ju” in 1992, “Hero” in 2002, “House of Flying Daggers” in 2004, “Curse of the Golden Flower” in 2006 and “The Flowers of War” in 2011. The Chinese mainland has submitted 34 entries to the Oscars but only been nominated twice — once for Zhang’s “Ju Dou” and once for his “Hero.” “Cliff Walkers” tells the story of four Chinese agents in the 1930s who parachute into northeastern China which is occupied by Japanese invaders on a secret mission to smuggle a prisoner out of a Japanese internment camp, only to find out that their operation has been exposed and they are betrayed. It has been hailed by critics as not only a personal breakthrough for the director in terms of film genre and narrative exploration but also a breakthrough for new patriotic films in China. Variety’s review described the film as a “gorgeously snowbound period spy movie insulated beneath layers of twisted plotting.” The film debuted theatrically in China over the May Day holiday, grossing US$180 million. It was distributed day-and-date in North America. China’s Hong Kong has selected “Zero to Hero,” a sports and family drama film as its contender in the Academy Awards’ best international feature category. Directed by Jimmy Wan Chi-man, the film is a biopic of the Paralympic athlete So Wa-wai who was born with cerebral palsy but went on to win 12 medals between 1996 and 2012, and break world records. Leading Hong Kong actress Sandra Ng, who plays the pivotal role of So’s mother, is credited as one of the film’s producers. China’s Taiwan has selected Chung Mong-hong’s pandemic-set drama “The Falls” as its contender in the international feature film race at the 94th Academy Awards. It is the third time that a film by Chung has represented Taiwan and the second time in succession. In the 2021 race, Taiwan selected Chung’s family drama “A Sun,” which was retained on the Oscars shortlist, but ultimately did not receive a nomination. “The Falls” premiered in the Horizons section at last month’s Venice Film Festival followed by an appearance at the Toronto International Film Festival. Set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, “The Falls,” starring Gingle Wang and Alyssa Chia, depicts how an unexpected home quarantine can take a strained relationship between a mother and a daughter on a different direction. (SD-Agencies) | 